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It’s GAMETIME! NBA 2K10 is out and contributing to people calling in sick everywhere

When I was in college, I would take the day of release off. No school, no work, no girlfriend….just the game and my buds and my buds….(just kidding kids, don’t do drugs…) The latest incarnation of the game is out and it is shaping up to be deadly…in a good way.

Spike has his hands in a lot...

NBA 2K10 Review

One decade later, it’s still the game to beat.

by Jeff HaynesOctober 5, 2009 – Although EA Sports has held the crown for most sports games, the NBA 2K series has still been the gold standard when it comes to basketball simulation. With excellent presentation values, solid on and off court play (thanks to its franchise mode) and an incredibly rich amount of features, 2K has frequently held off its competitors, who have lagged behind with disappointing installments in the past. With the ten year anniversary of the franchise slated for this year, 2K Sports had more of a reason to maintain their dominance. Plus, with Sony’s first party game taking a year off in the development leagues and NBA Live raising the level of its game, the burden was on them to prove why their game was the best around. Fortunately, NBA 2K10 will not disappoint fans of the series, even with some annoying problems that can try your patience.

As what happens at this time, I will be copping the game tonight. Unfortunately, since I have a meeting tomorrow morning, I will not call in sick, but Lord knows, I want to….

October 7, 2009
Categories: National Basketball Assocation, Video Games . Tags: EA Sports, Kobe Bryant, NBA 2k10, NBA Live 10, PS3, Spike Lee, XBOX 360 . Author: Steve . Comments: Leave a comment

Ariza to Houston: What exactly did you gain from leaving L.A.?

MOVE BITCH GET OUT THE WAY...

There is something to being wanted. The fact that someone steps to you first and expresses an interest is extremely flattering and can intensify the relationship. To be loved and feel wanted is a basic emotion that we all feel. To Trevor Ariza, that was his biggest desire.

At some point, it’s a business. You are hired to preform to your capabilities. But, you have to care about winning. While getting the most money has to be a consideration, winning has to matter as well. Trevor, I know that the Rockets told you they wanted you. They really do want you, because they lost Ron Artest. BUT, it only happened AFTER YOU REJECTED the Lakers offer.

The Los Angeles Times details the deals

“I am happy with my decision,” Ariza told The Times. “I’m glad this all worked out. The Rockets are going to give me a chance to improve my game and that’s all you can ask for.”

Ariza played in all 82 regular-season games and stepped up his game in the playoffs, averaging 11.3 points while shooting a stellar 47.6% from three-point range. He also had memorable steals of two inbounds passes late in Games 1 and 3 of the Western Conference finals against Denver.

Ariza’s agent, David Lee, said the 24-year-old forward passed up a more lucrative contract offer from another team to go to Houston. That team was believed to be Toronto.

“It was never about the money,” Lee said. “It was about going someplace where you felt appreciated.”

UPDATE It looks like Ariza got caught up playing two sides against the other. That didn’t seem to work out for him. The people at Hoopshype.com explain…

A source tells HOOPSWORLD that Kupchak was prepared to give Ariza an offer equivalent to the full MLE but at 10.5% raises, totaling at approximately $33.8 million over five years. LA’s ceiling might have been a $6 million starting salary for $36 million over five but before negotiations progressed after 9:00pm Pacific on Tuesday night, the source says that Ariza’s agent, David Lee, took a confrontational approach with Kupchak. Lee wanted a deal in the $50 million range and took offense to the team’s stance that Trevor should test the market first for that level of compensation. By the next morning, the Lakers were going after Artest in full force with Kobe Bryant, Lamar Odom and even Magic Johnson reaching out to the Houston forward. HoopsWorld

ESPN.com reports terms of the deal

ESPN.com’s Chris Sheridan reports that Ariza, according to sources, will receive the Rockets’ full mid-level exception, which is being projected to come in at $5.8 million for next season. If the exception for the 2009-10 season is indeed set at $5.8 million Wednesday when the league announces next season’s salary cap and luxury tax, Ariza’s deal would be worth $33.5 million.

But here is the rub. Trevor Ariza signed for exactly what the Lakers offered. He turned down staying at home in Los Angeles. He claims in the above statement that he wanted to improve his game and that Houston gave him the best opportunity to do so. So, it wasn’t the money, it was respect? It’s disrespectful to offer the mid-level exception?

SI.com details that he was unhappy with the deal.

Ariza unhappy with Lakers’ offer The Lakers remained far apart on negotiations Wednesday with their two main free-agent pieces, forwards Lamar Odom and Trevor Ariza. In particular, Ariza and his agent weren’t thrilled by the Lakers’ annual offer of $5.6 million over an unspecified number of years. Ariza, 24, was hoping for $7 million to $8 million a year. Odom, 29, is believed to be seeking $10 million a year, though it was unclear what the Lakers offered him. Ariza is drawing interest from Portland, Houston, Cleveland, Toronto and the Clippers. Of those teams, only Portland and Toronto have enough salary-cap room to offer more than the Lakers’ current offer.
(Los Angeles Times

Someone offered more than the midlevel, if his agent is to be believed. (At this point, there is no reason to doubt the agent) So, if it wasn’t money, why did he go to a team that has LESS of a chance to win this?